London Underground Ltd

At ACAS talks today, RMT stated that we wished to discuss with LU management how to deliver the staffing arrangements needed in all grades to provide London with the transport service it needs in order to make the Olympic and Paralympic Games a success. We stated that RMT believes that this can be achieved within the parameters of existing agreements, and would explain to LU management how this could be done, expecting management to consider these proposals and give its views.

Tube union RMT today called on London Underground to give firm assurances that existing framework agreements will be adhered to in order to allow for further discussions on Olympics recognition and reward.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“We have written to London Underground asking for cast iron guarantees that existing workplace framework agreements for staff will be complied with. Once we have those assurances there is no reason why talks cannot recommence but the ball is now firmly in LUL’s court and we await their response.

We note the report from our Regional Organiser. At ACAS yesterday (26 March), RMT made clear that in
order to proceed with talks we need a statement from management that no RMT members will be forced to break Framework Agreements. This has not yet been forthcoming from management, and until it is, all talks are adjourned.

RMT negotiators attended ACAS on Monday 26 March, and issued the following update at the end of the day's talks: “At ACAS today, RMT explained that in order to proceed with talks we need a statement from management that no RMT members will be forced to break Framework Agreements. This has not been forthcoming from management, and until it is, all talks will be adjourned."

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the resolution from our East Ham branch requesting that all grades be balloted for action short of strikes over OSN101 and related issues.

We instruct the General Secretary to urgently seek the views of all our branches with London Underground members and our Regional Council on this matter, and to place their responses in front of us.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the correspondence from London Underground Ltd, which fails to give the assurances that this union asked for, that current staffing establishment levels are protected and maintained over at least the period of the current pay deal. Instead, LUL has offered only vague phrase-mongering about “continuity of employment”, and made even this conditional on “common sense flexibility and cooperation to adapt to reasonable changes”. Experience tells us that this indicates LUL’s intention to cut staffing levels and attack working conditions.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note that talks at ACAS aimed at resolving the dispute over Olympics recognition and reward for all London Underground staff broke down yesterday, with LUL attempting to use the pretext of the Olympics to attack working conditions and undermine public safety. The company’s ‘offer’ demands changes to Framework Agreements and does not apply to all grades.